The Senate will vote this week on scrapping a Biden administration regulation that set stricter energy efficiency standards for certain natural-gas-powered water heaters.
The vote will come after a fierce, monthslong lobbying battle over the Department of Energy’s December regulation on tankless devices.
Japan-based Rinnai, which manufactures the appliances in a new Georgia facility, has led the charge against the rule, arguing it threatens its plant and consumer choice. The natural gas industry and conservative advocates have also been pushing to kill the rule.
On the other side is Wisconsin-based A.O. Smith, which has been the leading voice against overturning the December efficiency standards, saying doing so would give an unfair advantage to the tankless heaters.
